Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The most commonly imported vehicle in Europe was year was the oversized Dodge RAM truck, pictured. Alamy Stock Photo

Safety concerns raised as mega American SUVs and pick-ups imported to Ireland and EU

Nearly 5,000 oversized American vehicles were imported into the EU last year, including a handful to Ireland.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Transport has said it won’t be taking action against imports of extra-large American SUVs and pickup trucks, as environmental campaigners raise fears that the new popularity of the vehicles in Europe poses a road safety risk.

Nearly 5,000 oversized American SUVs and pickup trucks were imported from the United States into Europe last year, according to new data. It was a 20% increase when compared to the previous year.

Around 60% of these vehicles were the very large Dodge Ram truck, and Revenue has confirmed to The Journal that a handful of such vehicles have also been imported into Ireland.

According to figures from Revenue, two Dodge Ram Pickup trucks were imported from the United States into Ireland last year. Separately, 15 Ford Pick-up Trucks arrived from outside Ireland and the UK.

Some of these Ford trucks may have been imported from elsewhere in the EU. Ford sells pick-up trucks for the EU market that comply with EU safety standards. 

dodge-ram-1500-hellcat-rebel-trx-concept-truck-at-the-north-american-international-auto-show-naias A woman standing beside a 2017 model of a Dodge RAM Pick-up truck at a car show in the United States. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has claimed that extra large vehicles pose risks to the safety of children and the environment due not only to their size but also to their emission levels.

“Many of these bigger trucks don’t fit in our car parking spaces in Europe, they don’t fit on our rural roads, and they pose a danger to other drivers at a time when Ireland is struggling with high road deaths,” Ní Mhurchú said.

Loophole

The issue was highlighted in a report by the European Transport Safety Council this summer. It said that a loophole in the EU standards is making it easier for these vehicles to enter the European market.

The back-door clause, named ‘Individual Vehicle Approval’, allows for oversized vehicles to bypass EU environmental and safety regulations and was originally intended for adapted or specialised vehicles, such as emergency vehicles.

More recently, the system has been used to import large pick-ups and SUVs for personal use. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport told The Journal that registering vehicles from non-EU jurisdictions is legal in Ireland once a vehicle registration certificate from the original country is provided.

Most pick-ups on Irish roads are versions of the iconic American vehicle designed for the European market.

Ford launched a version of its ‘Raptor’ high-performance SUV and pick-up line specifically for the European market and complying with EU regulations, with lower speed and horsepower

The Journal has previously reported that campaigners are already calling for legislation in the size of new vehicles, as cars are expanding by half a centimetre each year

New cars in Ireland grew 2.4 centimetres wider in five years, with some of the most popular models now so large they have just a few centimetres to spare in many parking spaces.

Regulation

The Department of Transport said that vehicle standards for the EU market are in line with global vehicle regulations, agreed at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Vehicles imported into Ireland, according to the Department of Transport, are “generally” older models and arrive into the country for resale or personal use by people who have emigrated from abroad.

The European Commission has acknowledged the issue. Ní Murchú — who is also a permanent member of the European Parliament’s transport committee — has called on her colleagues to take action to close the loophole.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
108 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Favourite CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 11:02 AM

    Thanks google. Thanks for starting a world where people walk around recording each other. I will never wear these.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
    Favourite Jeremy Usbourne
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 10:54 AM

    Should read.

    “Silly Virgin Atlantic press release, amounts to vast amounts of free advertising”

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Heather Knowles
    Favourite Heather Knowles
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Minority Report meets Skynet

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Keating
    Favourite Tom Keating
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 12:32 PM

    Time for infrared necklaces for everyone so you can protect your identity.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Doyle
    Favourite Barry Doyle
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Welcome to the world of tomorrow

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan McDonald
    Favourite Dylan McDonald
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 1:04 PM

    I’m a tech geek at heart and this technology is really cool BUT people have to be realistic and open there eyes, this is potentially one of the worst things to ever hit the self’s, privacy as we know it will be gone and our kids will never no what it is! Once its gone it will never come back, Scott Barry style

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bopter
    Favourite bopter
    Report
    Feb 12th 2014, 12:19 AM

    Fyi tech geeks tend to have good grammar and spelling.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bandido
    Favourite bandido
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 2:19 PM

    The thing I’m dreading most about this technology is women walking down the street behind me checking out my sweet little ass.
    It gives them the capability to perv on me when I’m not even around!

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Butter bean
    Favourite Butter bean
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 11:49 AM

    Yeah because you can’t walk around recording people on you phone this last ten years.
    Good one Adebayo.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Heather Knowles
    Favourite Heather Knowles
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 3:36 PM

    Big difference in phone recording and these glasses. A few examples, your on a beach with your toddler and some stranger starts pointing a phone at your child filming them. If your a vigilant parent your going to notice this and one way or another put a stop to it and make other people aware of a potential pervert in your midst. Beach full of people lots wearing glasses any sicko can now do this unnoticed. Burgler scoping out your house standing with phone risk of being seen. Burgler walking slowly along with glasses on no problem. Taking cash out at an ATM using card in shop etc person with glasses good chance they can zoom in on your pin. Seriously dangerous piecof technology in the wrong hands and that’s aside from everyday invasions of privacy.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Favourite CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Soz, only seeing this now as you didn’t hit reply. Walking around with a phone outstretched pointing in someones face since 2004 isnt something I have seen too much of, in day to day life, like transactions at a till etc but hey maybe I haven’t been paying attention.

    10
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig Reardon
    Favourite Pádraig Reardon
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 5:20 PM

    PIN numbers are so last year love! We have fingerprint scanners here in Brazil now no need for a PIN number so don’t be worrying!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig Reardon
    Favourite Pádraig Reardon
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 5:21 PM

    *On all ATM machines

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Kavanagh
    Favourite Mary Kavanagh
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 12:44 PM

    I foresee (sorry!) terrible eye problems down the line if these become the norm.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Julian King
    Favourite Julian King
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 12:27 PM

    I remember these from ‘Beyond 2000′!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Gunn
    Favourite Ben Gunn
    Report
    Feb 11th 2014, 11:56 AM

    Welcome to the future. Bare in mind that the airlines have been the test bed for realtime transactions and date analysis since the 1960′s.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seamus mcdermott
    Favourite seamus mcdermott
    Report
    Feb 12th 2014, 10:26 AM

    I like Virgin Atlantic. I flew here via London from SFO. Treated like a human being. Wonderful staff. Comfortable seats (and I’m 6’4″, 210lbs). The other airlines should pay attention to VA. They know how to treat people.
    The glasses? Couldn’t care less. The terminal is plastered with cameras anyway.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds